Press Releases

WASHINGTON—U.S. Sens. Cory Booker D-N.J. and Jeff Sessions, R-A.L. today introduced legislation to award the Congressional Gold Medal, the nation’s highest civilian honor, to participants of the 1965 march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama. “We are forever indebted to those brave Americans-men and women of diverse age, color, and creed-who gathered in Selma to march on the frontlines in the fight for equality and justice,” said Senator Booker. “As an American who... Read More

WASHINGTON–U.S. Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J. has been appointed to serve as ranking member of the Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety, and Security, part of the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee. The subcommittee oversees interstate transportation policy issues and focuses on safety, security, and infrastructure development related to highways, waterways, and both freight and passenger rail -- including Amtrak. “There isn’t... Read More

WASHINGTON –U.S. Sens. Cory Booker, D-N.J., and Marco Rubio, R-F.L., today reintroduced S. 424, the Wi-Fi Innovation Act, legislation to expand unlicensed spectrum use by requiring the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to test the feasibility of opening the upper 5 GHz band to unlicensed use. At a time when demand for spectrum is drastically increasing, the legislation aims to provide more of this valuable resource to the public to bolster innovation, spur economic development, and... Read More

WASHINGTON– U.S. Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., at a press conference with U.S. Sens. Edward J. Markey, D-Mass., Al Franken D-Minn., and Bernie Sanders I-Vt., today, praised the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) net neutrality proposal, which was announced this morning and will be voted on by the FCC on February 26. The proposed changes would give the FCC strong legal authority to ensure that no content is blocked and no so-called pay-to-play fast lanes exist — a concept... Read More

WASHINGTON– U.S. Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., announced that Jeff Giertz will join his office as communications director effective today, overseeing his communications team. Giertz joins Booker’s office after working as communications director on former U.S. Rep. Bruce Braley’s 2014 campaign for U.S. Senate. Giertz also worked for several years as communications director in Braley’s congressional office in Washington, D.C.; served as communications director for then-U.S.... Read More

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sens. Cory Booker and Robert Menendez announced that $438 million in funds have now been disbursed for clean-up of two New Jersey Superfund sites, as a result of a historic environmental settlement reached with Anadarko and Kerr-McGee. The funds will go toward paying for past and future clean-up work at the Welsbach Superfund site located in Camden and Gloucester City, New Jersey and reimburse the federal government for substantial clean-up costs at the Federal... Read More

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) issued the following statement in response to the Federal Communications Commission’s proposal to approve petitions that would remove barriers to the deployment of community broadband: “I applaud the FCC’s proposal to preserve the rights of communities trying to make important broadband investments. As mayor of Newark, I saw how cities are often in the best position to innovate and find solutions to the specific challenges facing... Read More

NEWARK, NJ – With funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) set to expire at the end of February, U.S. Sens. Cory Booker and Robert Menendez, both (D-NJ), today held a press conference at Newark Liberty International Airport to warn of the possible impact any cuts would have on New Jersey and urge Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to pass a clean, full Department of Homeland Security funding bill for the 2015 fiscal year. As a member of the Homeland Security and Government... Read More

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) today released the following statement regarding President Barack Obama’s Fiscal Year 2016 budget proposal: “President Obama sent Congress a forward-looking budget that builds on the economic recovery we're seeing by focusing on boosting paychecks for middle class families and preparing workers for a 21st century economy. While New Jersey's economy is moving in the right direction, we need investments in infrastructure, transportation,... Read More

WASHINGTON –U.S. Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., today released the following statement after the Senate passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) of 2015. The bill authorizes funding for the Department of Defense (DOD) and the national security programs of the Department of Energy (DOE): “Today, I voted to pass the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which will allow the United States to respond to emerging threats and challenges, while giving our troops the tools and... Read More

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senators Robert Menendez and Cory Booker (both D-NJ) and Congressman Frank Pallone (NJ-06) released the following joint statement decrying the Department of the Interior’s inclusion of the Atlantic Ocean in its Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Oil and Gas Leasing Draft Proposed Program (Five Year Program) for 2017-2022. The draft proposed Five Year Program, which was announced today, allows for oil and gas exploration in a portion of the Mid- and South... Read More

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sens. Cory Booker, D-N.J., Edward J. Markey, D-Mass., and Claire McCaskill, D-Mo. today introduced the Community Broadband Act to preserve the rights of cities and localities to build municipal broadband networks. Internet access is increasingly a necessity, yet rural and low-income communities continue to face barriers to broadband adoption. Municipal broadband can often provide an affordable, reliable option. “As Mayor of Newark, I saw firsthand the value of... Read More

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., today issued a statement and video message following President Obama’s State of the Union address: “Tonight, the president put forth a clear vision for empowering the middle class. The ball is now in Congress’ court to respond with bipartisan legislation that addresses middle class families’ most pressing economic challenges and ensures our global competitiveness.” Read More

Senator Booker met with Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) members in New Jersey. Residents from all around the state gathered to share their touching personal experiences with Type 1 Diabetes. Aaron (12) , Cadet Holly Harrington (20), Morgan (11), and Austin Scott (20) explained how innovative advancements in diabetes treatments made positive, life-changing impacts in their lives and the lives of so many others affected by this disease. Senator Booker, already a champion of robust... Read More

WASHINGTON – In response to a report released today by the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) regarding the October 9, 2012 explosion at the US Ink manufacturing facility in East Rutherford, U.S. Sen. Cory Booker called for new action to protect worker safety. In a letter sent today to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Booker called for OSHA to issue a standard to prevent combustible dust fires and explosions in manufacturing facilities. In... Read More

WASHINGTON – In response to a report released today by the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) regarding the October 9, 2012 explosion at the US Ink manufacturing facility in East Rutherford, U.S. Sen. Cory Booker called for new action to protect worker safety. In a letter sent today to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Booker called for OSHA to issue a standard to prevent combustible dust fires and explosions in manufacturing facilities. In... Read More

WASHINGTON – New Jersey members of Congress, led by U.S. Sen. Cory Booker, U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez, both D-NJ, and Congressman Frank LoBiondo R-NJ2 today announced the awarding of up to $29.4 million in National Emergency Grant (NEG) funds to New Jersey Dept. of Labor and Workforce Development to benefit the Atlantic City casino workers impacted by the casino closings `through the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). The National Emergency Grant (NEG) proposal filed by the State of New Jersey in... Read More

WASHINGTON, Jan. 7, 2015 – Senators Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) with Senators Richard Burr (R-N.C.), Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), and Angus King (I- Maine) today introduced the FAST Act, a bill to simplify the process of applying for and receiving federal financial aid to attend college, allow year-round use of Pell Grants, discourage over-borrowing and simplify repayments. The bill would reduce to a single postcard—called the... Read More

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J. today met with Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson and discussed the importance of federal DHS grants to New Jersey fire departments to meet firefighting and emergency response needs, cybersecurity issues, and the implementation of reforms by FEMA to their Hurricane Sandy flood insurance claims process. Sen. Booker will be appointed to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs (HSGAC) for the upcoming 114th... Read More

“New Jersey’s past, present, and future rely on a transit network that is reliable and affordable,” said Sen. Booker. “It is part of our state’s quality of life and critical to the economic health and viability of our state. It’s clear the PANYNJ has strayed from its original mission and suffers from less than ideal transparency and accountability, which has chipped away at the public’s trust. I’m disappointed that bipartisan reform proposals... Read More